Insulator

ABSTRACT

An insulator for a beverage container wherein the beverage container is of a generally cylindrical form and wherein the insulator is formed of a sheet material having thermal insulating properties and comprises a cylindrical body ( 11 ) a having an upper and a lower end, said body having an internal configuration which is substantially complementary to the beverage container, the upper portion of the body supporting a closure ( 15 ) which when closed closes the upper end, the closure is hingedly supported from one side of the body to be movable between the closed position at which it fully closes the space and an open position at which the upper portion of the space can be accessed, the upper edge of the body being formed with a profiled portion ( 21 ) to define a concave notch portion and wherein the closure has a complementary formation which will be received in the notch portion when the closure is in the closed position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an insulator which can be used to accommodate a beverage container such as a drink can.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Forms of such insulators have been known for some period of time. I in most cases the insulator does not extend for the full height of the beverage container. One of the principle reasons for such is that provision needs to be made for the lips of the consumer when drinking from the container and to facilitate this a clearance is usually provided between the upper edge of the insulator and the upper edge of the can. This results in a significant portion of the container not being insulated.

In addition, in the situation where the contents of the container are not consumed immediately, there is always the danger that insects and/or flying debris or like may enter the container through the opening provided in the upper face of the can.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Accordingly, the invention resides in an insulator for a beverage container wherein the beverage container is of a generally cylindrical form and wherein the insulator is formed of a sheet material having thermal insulating properties and comprises a cylindrical body a having an upper and a lower end, said body having an internal configuration which is substantially complementary to the beverage container, the upper portion of the body supporting a closure which when closed closes the upper end, the closure is hingedly supported from one side of the body to be movable between the closed position at which it fully closes the space and an open position at which the upper portion of the space can be accessed, the upper edge of the body being formed with a profiled portion to define a concave notch portion and wherein the closure has a complementary formation which will be received in the notch portion when the closure is in the closed position.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the internal configuration of the body is such that the material of which the body is formed is not placed in a state of tension when in use accommodating the beverage container. According to a preferred feature of the invention the internal configuration of the body is such that the beverage container is snugly accommodated within the space.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the formation is located on the closure in opposed relation to the hinged support for the closure from the body.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the closure comprises an end panel which is dimensioned to be received across the upper end of the body and wherein the formation extends axially from the end panel. According to a preferred feature of the invention the closure is formed with a skirt portion which extends axially from the end panel, the skirt incorporating the formation and configured such that when the closure is in the closed position the skirt forms an extension of the body and its axial edge is in abutting relationship with the upper edge. According to a preferred feature of the invention the closure is hingedly supported from the body by a portion of said sheet material. According to a preferred feature of the invention the portion of sheet material is common to both the skirt and the body. According to a preferred feature of the invention the closure is supported from the body by an adhesive tape which extends between the body and the skirt.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the body is formed from a panel of said sheet material having the configuration of a right angled quadrilateral having two opposed ends and two opposed sides and wherein the opposed ends are connected end to end, a line of severance is formed across the sheet between the ends at a position spaced from one side, wherein the line of severance defines the upper edge and the portion between the line of severance and the one side defines the skirt.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the line of severance extends between the ends of the panel and the closure is supported from the body by an adhesive tape which extends between the body and the skirt.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the line of severance extends for only a portion of the width of the panel between the ends of the panel. According to a preferred feature of the invention wherein the line of severance terminates short of both ends of the panel. According to an alternative preferred feature of the invention the unsevered portion of the panel lies intermediate of the line of severance. According to a preferred feature of the invention the unsevered portion of the panel provides the hinged support for the closure from the body.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the ends of the panel are interconnected by a length of adhesive tape which extends along the length of the ends of the panel and is affixed to overlie the abutting ends of the panel.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the line of severance terminates short of at least one end of the panel the length of tape provides the hinged support between the closure and the body.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the lower end closed by an end panel.

The invention will be more fully understood in light of the following description of several specific embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an insulator according to the first embodiment with the closure in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the first embodiment with the closure in the open position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the first embodiment with the closure open;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation corresponding it to the first embodiment as shown at FIG. 3 and in which the embodiment is disposed through 90°:

FIG. 5 is a similar view to that of FIGS. 3 and 4 with the embodiment disposed through 180° with respect to the view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the second embodiment of the invention with the closure in the closed position;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the second embodiment showing the closure open;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the third embodiment showing the closure dosed;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the third embodiment with the closure open; and

FIG. 10 is rear isometric view of a fourth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Each of the embodiments is directed to an insulated holder which is intended to accommodate a beverage container in the form of a cylindrical can. The insulator is formed of a foam insulating material such as neoprene and or a rubber sheeting which is used with wet suits. The insulator of each embodiment comprises a generally cylindrical body 11 having closed end faces. The side wall 11 of the body is formed from a substantially rectangular panel of sheet material which is interconnected at its ends by a suitable adhesive or adhesive tape to hold the ends into engagement and to define a cylindrical interior space which is complimentary to the configuration of the can which is to be accommodated by the insulator. The dimensions of the panel are such that the space defined within the body will snugly engage the can without being placed substantially in a state of tension

In the case of each embodiment the end faces of the cylindrical space are closed by circular end panels. The end panels may be dimensioned such that they have an outer dimension corresponding to the outer dimension of the side wall 11 and therefore will overlie the outer most edges of the side walls 11 or alternatively may have a diameter corresponding to the internal diameter of the side walls 11 such that they are received within the outer edges of the side wall.

In the case of each embodiment the body is formed with a closure portion 15 which comprises one end panel 13 and the upper portion 17 of the side wall 11 which provides an axial skirt extending from the end panel. The upper portion 17 of the side wall 11 which defines the closure is defined by a severance line 19 which is cut into the panel of sheet material forming the side wall before the ends of the panel are fixed together.

In the case of each embodiment the profile of the severance line 19 is formed to provide a concave notch shaped portion 21 in the upper edge of the main body. The notch portion 21 will accommodate for the lower lip of a consumer which drinking from a can accommodated within the insulator to allow the wall of the beverage container in the region of the opening to will be engaged by the lower lip to provide an adequate seal there between. The upper portion 17 of the side wall is formed with a formation 23 which is complementary to the notch shaped portion 21

Each embodiment has an aperture 25 is provided in the end panel 13 a at a position at which it will be in alignment with the opening with a beverage container when accommodated within the body to enable the insertion of a straw into the beverage container for the consumption of the contents without the need to open the body.

Each embodiment provides an insulated holder for a drink can whereby when not in use the full surface of the can be insulated. When it becomes necessary to consume the contents of the can, these can be consumed by utilising a straw which is inserted through the aperture 23 into the contents of the open can. Alternatively the closure 15 can be opened to provide access by the lips of the consumer to the edges of the can in the region of the opening. The holder according to the embodiment also provides the advantage that any insects which may be in the region will not be permitted to enter the beverage container through the opening through the protection provided by the closure. In addition the presence of the notch-shaped portion 21 serves to enable the lips of the user to sealingly engage with the side wall of the can when drinking directly form the can

In the case of the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5 the severance line terminates short of the joined ends of the sheet material to provide a hinge portion 23 of the body of the panel which interconnects the closure 15 with the lower portion of the insulator. This remaining hinge portion 25 serves to provide a resilient hinge which supports the closure 15 from the main body. The hinged connection provided by the hinge portion 27 for the closure 15 from the main body of the side wall provides that of the closure will be biased towards the closed position. The biasing action is enhanced by the circumstance that the hinge portion 15 is a part of the curved cylindrical wall of the insulator. Therefore when the closure is moved to the open position the hinge portion is flexed as result of the bending action about a substantially linear tangential axis which causes the hinge portion to also be deflected from its curved state as result of forming apart of the cylindrical wall of the body.

The second embodiment as shown at FIGS. 6 and 7 is of a similar form to that of the previous embodiment with the exception that the severance line 19 extends for the full extent of the sheet material and the hinged connection is provided by a tape which is used to interconnect the abutting ends of the panel defining side wall and serves to retain the closure in position on the lower portion of the main body.

The third embodiment as shown at FIGS. 8 and 9 is of a similar form to that of the second embodiment with the exception that the portion of the side wall 17 which defines the closure 15 and the lower portion of the side wall does not extend for the full circular extent of the body but provides for the formation 23 which is complementary to the notch shaped portion 21.

In the case of the fourth embodiment as shown at FIG. 10 it is of a similar form to the first embodiment with the exception that the severance line 19 is terminated at each end by an axial cut 25. The axial cuts serves to avoid the possibility that with use and regular flexing the severance line 19 will extend until the ends of the severance line interconnect. The axial cuts also provide that the hinging action provided by the hinge portion will be effected over an area of the side wall of the cylindrical wall of the body rather than along a line as in the case of the first embodiment.

The present invention is not to be limited in scope by any of the specific embodiments described herein. These embodiments are intended for the purpose of exemplification only. Functionally equivalent products and methods are clearly within the scope of the invention as described herein. 

1. An insulator for a beverage container wherein the beverage container is of a generally cylindrical form and wherein the insulator is formed of a sheet material having thermal insulating properties and comprises a cylindrical body a having an upper and a lower end, said body having an internal configuration which is substantially complementary to the beverage container, the upper portion of the body supporting a closure which when closed closes the upper end, the closure is hingedly supported from one side of the body to be movable between the closed position at which it fully closes the space and an open position at which the upper portion of the space can be accessed, the upper edge of the body being formed with a profiled portion to define a concave notch portion and wherein the closure has a complementary formation which will be received in the notch portion when the closure is in the closed position.
 2. An insulator as claimed at claim 1 wherein the internal configuration of the body is such that the material of which the body is formed is not placed in a state of tension when in use accommodating the beverage container.
 3. An insulator as claimed at claim 2 wherein the internal configuration of the body is such that the beverage container is snugly accommodated within the space.
 4. An insulator as claimed at claim 1 wherein the closure comprises an end panel which is dimensioned to be received across the upper end of the body and wherein the formation extends axially from the end panel.
 5. An insulator as claimed at claim 4 wherein the closure is formed with a skirt portion which extends axially from the end panel, the skirt incorporating the formation and configured such that when the closure is in the closed position the skirt forms an extension of the body and its axial edge is in abutting relationship with the upper edge.
 6. An insulator as claimed at claim 5 wherein the closure is hingedly supported from the body by a portion of said sheet material.
 7. An insulator as claimed at claim 6 wherein the portion of sheet material is common to both the skirt and the body.
 8. An insulator as claimed at claim 5 wherein closure is supported from the body by an adhesive tape which extends between the body and the skirt.
 9. An insulator as claimed at claim 5 wherein, the formation is located on the closure in opposed relation to the hinged support for the closure from the body.
 10. An insulator as claimed at claim 6 wherein, the formation is located on the closure in opposed relation to the hinged support for the closure from the body.
 11. An insulator as claimed at claim 7 wherein, the formation is located on the closure in opposed relation to the hinged support for the closure from the body.
 12. An insulator as claimed at claim 8 wherein, the formation is located on the closure in opposed relation to the hinged support for the closure from the body.
 13. An insulator as claimed at claim 5 wherein the body is formed from a panel of said sheet material having the configuration of a right angled quadrilateral having two opposed ends and two opposed sides and wherein the opposed ends are connected end to end, a line of severance is formed across the sheet between the ends at a position spaced from one side, wherein the line of severance defines the upper edge and the portion between the line of severance and the one side defines the skirt.
 14. An insulator as claimed at claim 13 wherein the line of severance extends between the ends of the panel and the closure is supported from the body by an adhesive tape which extends between the body and the skirt.
 15. An insulator as claimed at claim 14 wherein the line of severance extends for only a portion of the width of the panel between the ends of the panel to provide an unsevered portion.
 16. An insulator as claimed at claim 15 wherein the line of severance terminates short of both ends of the panel.
 17. An insulator as claimed at claim 15 wherein the unsevered portion of the panel lies intermediate of the line of severance
 18. An insulator as claimed at claim 15 wherein the unsevered portion of the panel provides the hinged support for the closure from the body.
 19. An insulator as claimed at claim 16 wherein the unsevered portion of the panel provides the hinged support for the closure from the body.
 20. An insulator as claimed at claim 17 wherein the unsevered portion of the panel provides the hinged support for the closure from the body.
 21. An insulator as claimed at 13 wherein the ends of the panel are interconnected by a length of adhesive tape which extends along the length of the ends of the panel and is affixed to overlie the abutting ends of the panel.
 22. An insulator as claimed at claim 21 wherein the length of tape provides the hinged support between the closure and the body.
 23. An insulator as claimed at claim 1 wherein, the formation is located on the closure in opposed relation to the hinged support for the closure from the body.
 24. An insulator as claimed at claim 5 wherein, the formation is located on the closure in opposed relation to the hinged support for the closure from the body.
 25. An insulator as claimed at claim 13 wherein, the formation is boated on the closure in opposed relation to the hinged support for the closure from the body.
 26. An insulator as claimed at claim 1 wherein the lower end is closed by an end panel. 